Tyler Sigman, Co-Founder of Red Hook Studios, discusses his journey into game design, difficulties of indie studio funding, and reflections on the origins of Red Hook. They also talk about the financial challenges faced by small gaming companies and the importance of persistence and self-advocacy in the industry.
Resilience is crucial in game development, as setbacks and challenges are inevitable but perseverance leads to success.
In a competitive market, independent studios must explore alternative avenues and partnerships to secure funding and ensure survival.
Distinguishing between what you truly love doing and what you want to love doing is important in pursuing a career in game development.
Having agency and creative freedom allows developers to focus on creating something they truly love, while staying true to oneself.
Deep dives
Tyler Seigman's Developer Journey and Resilience
Tyler Seigman, the developer of Darkest Dungeon, shares his experience and journey in game development, highlighting the importance of resilience despite setbacks. He discusses his early passion for games, mentioning his fascination with various game mediums and his admiration for game developers. Tyler reflects on his transition from aeronautical engineering to game development, realizing his love for games and embracing a career in the industry.
The Challenges and Success of Developing Horde
The podcast episode delves into the development of the game Horde, highlighting the challenges faced by the team and the critical role of prototyping. The team's prototype of Horde was well-received, leading to funding and a publishing deal with Sony. The constraints and focus of the prototype allowed them to create a fun and successful game.
The Impact of Industry Consolidation on Independent Studios
The podcast discusses the challenges faced by independent studios during a period of industry consolidation when Facebook games and mobile games were on the rise. The focus on free-to-play and social games made it difficult for studios like Big Sandwich to secure funding for their projects. This led them to explore alternative avenues and partnerships to ensure their survival.
The Journey to Establishing Red Hook Studios
The podcast episode explores the path that led to the establishment of Red Hook Studios. After the challenges faced by Big Sandwich Games, Tyler and the team decided to take a different approach. They decided to self-fund their games and focus on making games they were passionate about, leading to the creation of Darkest Dungeon and the formation of Red Hook Studios.
The Importance of Finding Your True Passion
One of the main lessons Tyler shares is the importance of distinguishing between what you truly love doing and what you want to love doing. He talks about his experience of realizing that he loved the process of having written, but not the actual process of writing. He advises young developers to take a breath and think about what they truly love before pursuing a career in game development.
Resilience as a Key Factor
Tyler emphasizes the importance of resilience in game development. He stresses that setbacks and challenges are inevitable, but having the persistence to keep going is what ultimately leads to success. He encourages developers to embrace the learning process and to not let failures discourage them.
The Value of Agency and Freedom
Tyler highlights the benefits of having agency and freedom in game development. He discusses how being in control of their own destiny allowed him and his team to focus on creating something they truly loved. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself and not being swayed by external pressures or expectations.
The Joy of Working on Game Systems
Tyler shares his passion for working on game systems and the enjoyment he derives from the process. He talks about the satisfaction of making changes and seeing the impact in the game. He also emphasizes the importance of finding joy in the development process, even during challenging times.
Robin Hunicke chats with Tyler Sigman, Co-Founder of Red Hook Studios. Together they discuss his journey into board games and video games; his start making table top games; his first steps into video game design; the difficulties of navigating funding for an indie studio in an emerging market; and the decisions that led to founding Red Hook Studios with Chris Bourassa. Tyler Sigman is one of the Co-Founders of Red Hook Studios, who are best known for releasing Darkest Dungeon and Darkest Dungeon II, which is currently available in early access.
